Sky Broadband moves to protect customers by filtering BBC

Sky Broadband were the first Internet Service Provider to respond to David Cameron's call for providers to automatically apply web filters to the content their customers could view online. The system is designed to protect children from accidentally viewing porn on the web.

While the Prime Minister was quick to congratulate Sky for responding so quickly to his call for greater child protection, some Sky customers reported teething problems. Ben Robertson woke up this morning unable to check the BBC News website. "I've no idea why a filter designed to stop children viewing porn on the web would stop me from being able to access the BBC news website!" Ben said.

It seems that the BBC is not the only news organisation whose website fell foul of Sky's content filter. "I tried the Guardian; The Telegraph; I even tried the Independent, but Sky's web filter blocked them all saying they contained porn! It's a good thing I've still got that online subscription to The Times."

A spokesperson for Sky Broadband dismissed suggestions of a conspiracy. "I want to assure our customers that our engineer is working to resolve the problem. What is more, it is entirely coincidental that the only news websites our Broadband customers can access are all owned by News International." Quizzed about the use of the singular "engineer", the spokesman admitted that they had thought they would let the work experience student have the first crack at solving the problem. "He's nearly got the relevant GNVQ though" he assured customers.

Some customers were also finding some Google search terms blocked by their age appropriate filters, including: Leveson; Royal Charter; Coulson and Brooks.

"As we work to resolve the problem, our customers will still have access to the Times and are advised to take out an online subscription." Asked what people should do if they don't want to pay for news when so much content was usually available for free, the spokesman said: "Well, if you really don't want to pay for online news, our filters haven't blocked The Sun, and today's Page 3 girl has a really great pair of knockers!"